After mistrial, man faces amended charges in Logan County rape case

A Xenia teacher on indefinite leave is ordered to appear in court today on amended charges in a Logan County rape case.

Brandon M. Murray, 35, of Bethel Twp. in Clark County, is scheduled to be arraigned on two counts of rape, one count of sexual battery and two counts of gross sexual imposition, according to online Logan County court records.

He is accused of sexually assaulting a 25-year-old woman — an acquaintance of Murray and his wife — after a night of drinking in June 2017 at Froggy’s swim-up bar at Indian Lake.

In March, the case against Murray ended in mistrial after a jury could not reach a verdict.

Murray’s accuser was part of a group that traveled to Logan County and had all been drinking at Froggy’s, 11065 County Road 293 in Lakeview. At the end of the night, the woman was “extremely intoxicated” and was sitting in a vehicle with Murray and his wife waiting for the rest of the group and the designated driver, police said.

Murray’s wife passed out, and police say the alleged crime occurred during a 10-minute period of time before the group’s return to the vehicle.

The woman reported the incident to authorities a little more than a month later. Murray disputed the allegations and told investigators his interaction with the woman was consensual, according to court documents.

Murray is a teacher at the Miami Valley Juvenile Rehabilitation Center in Xenia, employed by Xenia Community Schools. Superintendent Gabriel Lofton said Murray was placed on an indefinite leave of absence on Oct. 19.